Trying to keep morale high after spot-fixing scandal: Afridi

Last updated on: September 01, 2010 22:58 IST

Pakistan's ODI captain Shahid Afridi said his team was trying to keep its morale high in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal and was looking forward to their practice game against Somerset on Thursday.

"We had a very good practice session yesterday. What has happened has gone. We are here to play good cricket. It's a big challenge for me personally, playing in English conditions is always difficult," Afridi said at Somerset's County Ground.

"Myself and coach (Waqar Younis) are trying to keep the morale high. It's always very difficult in these conditions against a good team but they are all really focused," said the all-rounder, who had resigned from Test captaincy after his side's 150-run loss against Australia in July.

Pakistan has been in news for all the wrong reasons after allegations of spot-fixing surfaced against four of its players, including Test captain Salman Butt, bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir.

The tainted trio today left their team hotel in Taunton for an emergency meeting in London tomorrow that will go a long way to determine whether Pakistan's tour of England will continue or not.

They will meet top administrative and diplomatic officials of Pakistan tomorrow as a part of the investigation.

Afridi joined the squad after the Lord's Test, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 225 runs, a day after British Tabloid News of the World posted a sting operation video which unearthed the spot-fixing scandal.

The controversy has put rest of the tour -- Twenty20s and ODIs -- in doubt but Afridi said his team will put behind the scandal when they lock horns with Somerset.

"We are all looking forward to it. It has been really difficult but we can forget everything, get out, play cricket and entertain the people," he said.